impulse

1. n. The act of impelling, or driving onward with sudden force; impulsion; especially, force so communicated as to produced motion suddenly, or immediately. Source: opted

2. n. The effect of an impelling force; motion produced by a sudden or momentary force. Source: opted

3. n. The action of a force during a very small interval of time; the effect of such action; as, the impulse of a sudden blow upon a hard elastic body. Source: opted

4. n. A mental force which simply and directly urges to action; hasty inclination; sudden motive; momentary or transient influence of appetite or passion; propension; incitement; as, a man of good impulses; passion often gives a violent impulse to the will. Source: opted

5. v. t. To impel; to incite. Source: opted

6. n. an instinctive motive Source: wordnet

7. n. a sudden desire Source: wordnet

8. n. the electrical discharge that travels along a nerve fiber Source: wordnet

9. n. (electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients) Source: wordnet

10. n. the act of applying force suddenly Source: wordnet

11. n. an impelling force or strength Source: wordnet

12. 1. The act of impelling, or driving onward with sudden force; impulsion; especially, force so communicated as to produced motion suddenly, or immediately. All spontaneous animal motion is performed by mechanical impulse. S. Clarke. 2. The effect of an impelling force; motion produced by a sudden or momentary force. 3. (Mech.) The action of a force during a very small interval of time; the effect of such action; as, the impulse of a sudden blow upon a hard elastic body. 4. A mental force which simply and directly urges to action; hasty inclination; sudden motive; momentary or transient influence of appetite or passion; propension; incitement; as, a man of good impulses; passion often gives a violent impulse to the will. These were my natural impulses for the undertaking. Dryden. Syn. -- Force; incentive; influence; motive; feeling; incitement; instigation. To impel; to incite. [Obs.] Pope. Source: webster

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